CLIMBING BEAR MOUNTAIN IN THE SNOW. 251 
red birds in their number so far as I could see. 
Red squirrels were ubiquitous. I think we 
saw, or heard the chattering of, at least twenty 
during the day. I have been told so often that 
chipmunks keep closely housed in winter that 
when one squealed at me from his hole near the 
track I did not trust either my own ears or 
those of my friend. Seeing is believing, how¬ 
ever, and a dozen or two rods farther on another 
chipmunk stayed on his log long enough for us 
to count his stripes and wish him a merry 
Christmas. 
We reached home at about half past four, 
just as the western sky was filled with rosy 
light by a sun already set. Venus, close to the 
dark rim of Passaconaway, and Jupiter, in the 
higher sky, summoned the stars to their posts, 
and encouraged us to beg for supper. 
